Ornamental metal railing, fence, etc.



Feb. 11, 1958 F. s. SCHRAGE ORNAMENTAL METAL RAILING, FENCE, ETC

Filed NOV. 10, 1955 J F! A 0 WW @Q M 1 p Q 1 m law A f g M a United States Patent 2,823,014 ORNAMENTAL METAL RAILING, FENCE, ETC.

Frederick S. Schrage, Rocklsland, Ill, assignorto Harley -E. Bergren,-Bettend0rf, and Lloyd J. Adkins, Washing- .ton, Iowa Application November 10, 1955 Serial No. 546,044 17 Claims. (Cl."256 -:21)

This invention relates to an ornamental railing, fence, etc,, primarily forexterior stairs, and more particularly to such structure of the pre-fabricated, knock-down or do it yoursel type.

The invention features simplicity, economy, ease of assembly and adaptability to installation in a wide variety of stair orstep situations, which-features stress primarily ready adjustability of the structurewith'virtually no cutting and no on-the jOb welding or other toolrequireinents beyond the range of the usual home-equipped work bench. A significant-and one of themost important objects of the invention is the use of arcuatecorner-connecting elements and intermediate elements, each preferably in the found a ring and/ or a part-ring, partsof the circumference of each of which are slotted for cooperation with neighboring elements, posts and rails by means of simple fasteners used in the slots and in apertures designed for register with the slots; while these'areloose the assembled structure may 'be adjusted tofit a selected v.set of stairs for example. After the proper slope -0r angle has been achieved, the fasteners areti-ghtened and the entire structure becomes unitary and rigid.

It is another object of the invention to-utilize readily adaptable or so-called standard lengths or lengths which may be used in easy-to-handle multiples, and which-may bereadily-trimmed on the job to achieve necessary joints by a common hack saw. Because of theprovisionfor adjustment as among therings, part-rings, posts and rails, of skill is-required'for installation prirnarily because the various componentsareproperly coordinated and the overall design is thereforeextremelyflexible,

The'foregoingand other importantobjects and desirable features or the invention wi11 become a parent as "the description proceeds in connection-with the drawing, {the several figures of which aredeseribed immediately below.

Figured is an elevationof one-form of assem led railing as'used on an exterior porch or stoop and stairs] Figure Zis an enlargedsection on the line-1 20f Figure 1. a

Figu1e 3 is a longitudinal section as if seen on the lineG- ii of Figure 2'. f

Figure 4 is a perspective of one ofthe rings. "figure 5 is' a plan view o f -one'-f rm-of cornerpost with portions shown in broken lines. i j

apartial elevation of the eemer'pest'or Figure 6 -1s Figure 5. V

The numeral 10 in F igure 1 represents-anexterior-Wall of a residence or 'other building; II-indicates astoop; and L2 designates steps from thestoop'. "The-assembled railing structure includes ahorizontalsection on the stoop and a sloping section S along the steps. 7 Each-sectionis-made-up of the same types of basic components; namely, epO S lZ members 13,- rail members -14=,--14 14 and ilf giiidividual rings 15, andrin'gs 16 connected by spokes 1:7.' These, together with i fastener means, preferably -bolts :18 .sand- ;nuts. 19,. complete the ordinary ,as-

sembly, he nutsrllarepreferably of the flexible-metal 2,823,014 Patented Feb. 11, 1958 ice .speed type and readily adaptthemselves to'thecurvatureof the rings. The bolts-haverelatively large, slotted heads to cover joints, etc. and are readily handled with a conventional screw driver.

As best shown in Figure 2, thetrails or rail members are channels, the internal width of which is sufficient to close- 1y accept a portion of each ring 15 and '16, as the case may be. The parts are preferably of-me'tal; although, the material, currentlythe best'for the purpose, is' not of iting significance. The ring and spoke assemblies are each preferably of one-piece design, the rings -16 being formed on the ends of aspoke and Welded as at20 to form a circle. The rails are preferably assen'ibledwith their open sides down, which improvesthe appearance-of the structure and avoids the'colleetio'n of water and debris that would occur if assembled open side up. The spokes 17 may have an ornamental twist therein, the pres'enceflor absence of which does not detract from the novelty disclosed and claimed herein. Y

Here .as in the claims the expressions front, rear," top, bottom, etc are used in the interests of convenience and should not be taken-as limiting the'invention.

The posts 13, with a possible exception tobe notedbelow, are identical andeach maybe setinto the; stoop and steps, if concrete, in any well'knownmanner; or, they may have-flanged'basesas is'not unconventional. in any event,they rise from their respective positions'to-f ree terminal upper ends. Each post at'its upper end-has a corner-connecting or bra-cc element inthe'formof 2.16- shaped or part ring element Zl, the-open side of which is down so as to receive and embracethe upper end of the post from above. The free orterminalends' of the C that afford the post-receiving gaparerigidlysecured, prf erably by welding-at 22, tothe front and rear faces of the post. The remaining circumferential extent'or closed side of each QC-shaped elementxaifo'nds arcuate' outer su'r' face portions 'arrangeable with selected rails 14 14", 14 and 14 and/ or rings .15 and 16, as will presently appear. The diameters of the rings-15 and :16 and the part-rings or C-shapedelements are uniform, =and all havethesame characteristic of I presenting their. circumferences 'or: er tions thereof as arcuate outermounting surfaces. The primary considerationhereisthatthe rings andic-s'haped elements are tangent -at one or more places. to theirineigh boring components.

.Each post has :at its lower end portion-front andrear part rings -23 and these,- plus the C-shapedupper element 21, affordthe basic connectors from which the assembly proceeds. The exception referred to abovemay occu-r in connection .With the post -13 that is proximateto the build ing-exterior ,,10, in which case-the rear part ring 23 may be removed .to permit installation of that post'flush-vvith the vwall as ,shown, Or the connection may be madedi rectly .via a ring 15 or 16. or aqspecia'l postmay be-pr'ovided.' This connectionmay, however, 'bevaried according to individualpreference.

,In the-assembly.ofthe structure, after the threeposts 13 have been arranged, a certaindifferencein levelwill of cgursetexist between the post on the loweststep 1-2 andfthe first post on the stoop 1,1. Aline drawn from one to the othenwillthenlie at a certain angle tothe horizontal, which willalsobethe angle orslopeof the top and bottom rails 14 and 14 The rails betweenthe front and rearposts on .the stoop .will of course be-level or horizontal. The angle of the rails in the step section S will vary among different jobs butit is .a feature of this turn stems from the novel' construction of the nitrate elements comprising the rings and part-rings 15, 16, 21 and 23, the details of which will appear below.

The C-shaped element or part ring 21 has preferably three circumferential slots therein, one at 214 in the top or upper portion thereof, another at 25 in its front portion andfanother at 26 in its rear portion (Figure 3). Reference here to front, rear etc. means as seen by a person ascending the stairs. The lower part-rings 23 are slotted at front and rear portions as is suggested in Figure -1- and as will be apparent from its substantial duplication, at 'least'in essentials, of the part-ring 21. It will be noted that each slot 24, 25, 26 has a substantial arcuate extent, here forty-five degrees; although, the extent may obviously be varied without departure from the present invention. Also, the slot 24 is in an upper front portion of the arc, the slot 25 is in a front'lower portion, and the slot 26 is in a rear lower portion. Stated otherwise, there is a slot in each of three of the four. quadrants of the C, the slots 24, 25 and 26 appearing respectively in the second, third and fourth quadrants. In the part-rings 23, and considering these as part of the same circle, which they are, the slots are in the third and fourth quadrants. I In the case of the rings 15, each has three slots 27, 28 and 29, respectively, in the first, second and fourth quadrants. The same is true of three slots 30, 31 and 32 in each ring 16.

A feature of the post 13 is that the C is spaced ahead, above and behind the front, top and rear, respectively, of the post, leaving room for the nuts 19 (Figure 3). The post is preferably tubular and one wall thereof is extended at 33 and welded or otherwise united to the upper arc of the C to increase the strength thereof.

In the corner post shown at 34 in Figures and 6, there is a C-shaped element 35 like that at 21 and in addition there is a part-ring 36 like one of the part-rings 23. The C is slotted at 37, 38 and 39 to correspond to the slots 24, 25 and 26 of the C-shaped element 21.

The part-ring 36 is slotted only at 40 and walls of the tubular post 34 are extended upwardly'at 41 and 42 for welding respectively to the elements 35 and 36, which are at right angles to each other. Hence, a pair of rails 14 and 14 (shown in broken lines for clarity) assembled at 35-36 will be mitered at 14 and a single fastener 45 in the slot 37 will accommodate and hold the mating ends of the rails. This is sufficient when it is considered that each rail is additionally secured to and by the next adjacent ring 15, which is also true of the joint at the bottom of the post 34 except that, since the right-angle-related post part-rings (not shown, but like 23 and 36) do not intersect, the bottom rails will be supported by rings such as 15. It should be understood that the portion of the ring to the right of the post 34 is not used in the corner assembly.

After the posts 13 have been set up, one method is to complete the section H and then start the section S from the lowermost or front post 13, setting the rails 14 and 14 temporarily in position to determine lengths and also the angle of the cut at the joint between the top rail and the top rail of the section H, as at .43, as Well as the angle of the joints at 44 with the front and common posts. The top rail 14 in the section H is secured by fasteners 18 and 19 to the C-shaped elements 21 of the H section posts 13 via the slots 24 and suitable registering apertures 45 in therails. There are a plurality of uniformly spaced such apertures in the rails, thus eliminating the need for drilling, except on rare occasions. Because of the spacing of the apertures 45 and the relation thereof to the uniformly-diametered rings and 16 and part-rings 21 and 23, the use of these components inmultiples naturally follows. In the arrangement shown, the individual rings 15 are alternated with the joined rings 16, it being understood that each spoke constitutes one form of means for interconnecting its rings 16. This is a typical assembly but is by no means the only one. The upper series of rings 15, 16 is alined along the underside of the top rail 14, the rings being in tangentially consecutive order (each tangent to its neighbor) and each ring is further tangent to the rail. The end rings in each series are respectively tangent to the arcuate elements afforded by the ele ments 21 on the posts. This is true as to both sections H and S, for, regardless of the slope or angle of the rails in the section S, the slots in the rings and partrings are equal to the task of accommodation as long as the fasteners 18, 19 are left loose enough for adjustment which, when finally determined, is secured by tightening of the fasteners. Of course, the slots serve a further function other than permitting adjustment in a job undergoing installation: they enable a single typical assembly to be used for a variety of jobs. The angle of the rails in the section S determines the length of the rails and accordingly the nature of the joint at 43, but this and the joints between the lower rail 14d of the section S and the posts 13, as at 44, are the only places where cutting or fitting is required. The front of the top rail 14 may be trimmed off at 46 if desired.

The tangential relationship among the rings, partrings and rails, as described above, follows also for the lower series in the sections H and S; and is also characteristic when the corner post of Figures 5 and 6 (or any equivalent) is used. The same is true when the section H, for example, is increased in length, which, as is equally true of the section S, is accomplished by repeating the sections. Flush or straight-across joints will be achieved at each post that is common to neighboring sections except where the angle between the sect1ons changes, as at 43.

When the fasteners are tightened the utmost in rigidity is achieved. As previously stated, the width of each ring is such that an arcuate portion thereof tightly fits the channel-section of the top rail. Each intermediate ring 15, 16 has three points of connection, two with neighboring rings and one with a rail. The front and rear halves of the C shaped element 21 have rigid con nections to the post 13 (welded at 22) and each half has a connection to the end ring 15 in a series, plus a connection to a rail. In each case the theory of triangular rigidity is achieved. The arrangement is such that when the components in the section S, or a similar section, are assembled loosely, without the rails 14, the entire section may be adjusted from a right rectangle to a parallelogram, within the limits of the ring and partring slots, since these components roll about each other and the fasteners slide angularly in the slots. If the spokes and posts are kept plumb, the rings will line up according to the angle required by the steps, after which the fasteners may be tightened and the rails 14 and 14 cut and installed.

The foregoing characteristics are only a few that go together to make this design practicable, economical and simple. Other features not categorically enumerated herein will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, as will various modifications of the preferred embodiment disclosed, all of which may be achieved without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

' What is claimed is:

l. A railing assembly, comprising: front and rear spaced apart posts, each having a terminal upper end and front and rear upright faces; front and rear rail-mounting elements respectively on said front and rear posts, each element being a part ring having circumferentially spaced apart lower terminal ends affording a gap through which the upperend of the associated post extends diametrically as respects said part ring, the terminal ends of each part ring'being rigidly secured respectively to the front and rearfaces of the associated post with said part ring curving upwardly ahead of, rearwardly over and downwardly register-wi-th the respective slots;

behind the upper end of said post to respectively provide integral front, top and rear portions, each part ring "havinga continuous circumferential slot in part in its forward portion andin part inits top portion; a'top rail extending between the posts and having front and rear ends respectively supported on thepart rings and respectively tangent thereto at theportions thereof including said slots, each end of the rail having an aperture therein in register with the respective slot; and a pair of releasable fastener means, one passed through each slot and its registering aperture, said fastener meansbeing releasable to slide in their respective slots to enable adjustment of the top'rail and posts circumferentially about the part rings, and said fastener means being-securable to fix said adjustment.

ZIThe invention defined in claim 1, in which: the radius of'each part ring is sufficiently larger than theforeand-aft dimension of the' associated post'as "to provide a-space for accommodating a fastener means between the front face of said post'and the inner surface of the slotted upper forward portion of said part ring.

3 The invention defined in claim 1, in whichz'the rear part ring has a second circumferential slot in-thetop-and rear portions thereof; a second top rail extends rearwardly from said rear part ring and has a'frontend'supported on said rear part ring and tangent thereto at said second slot, said front-end having an aperture in register with said second slot; and fastener means is releasably received in the last-mentioned-slot and aperture for adjustably-securingthe second'top rail to saidrear part ring.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, including: -'an upper series of rings alined below and individually tangent to the undersurface' of the top rail'and in tangentially consecutive order as respects each other, the front and rear rings of said series being tangent respectively to the rear portion-'of'the front part-ring and the front portion of the rear part ring, said rings respectively having circumferentiahslo'tsatthe points of-tangency respectively with the rail andjpart rings and'the' rail and; part ringsrespectively'hav-ing apertures at said points of tangency and-in and-aplurality of fastener'means releasably' received respectively by the registered slots and apertures for selective release and securement to respectively accommodate and fix adjustment between the rail and posts. 7

5. The invention defined in claim 4, including: a bottom rail extending between lower portions of the posts and having front and rear ends respectively proximate to said lower post portions; front and rear lower part-ring elements secured respectively to the rear of the front post and to the front of the rear post above the bottom rail, said lower front part-ring element lying substantially semi-circularly behind the lower portion rear face of the front post to present an arcuate lower rear portion tangent to the front end of the bottom rail and provided with a circumferential slot including the point of tangency, said lower rear part-ring element lying substantially semicircularly ahead of the lower portion front face of the rear post to present a lower front portion tangent to the rear end of the bottom rail and provided with a circumferential slot including that point of tangency, said front and rear ends of the bottom rail having apertures respectively in register with the slots in the lower part-ring elements; and front and rear lower fastener means respectively received in the slots and apertures for selective release and securement along with the previously mentioned fastener means to respectively secure and fix adjustment of the rails and posts.

6. The invention defined in claim 5, including: a lower series of rings alined above and individually tangent to the top surface of the bottom rail and in tangentially consecutive order as respects each other, the front and rear rings of said lower series being respectively tangent to the front and rear part-ring elements, said lower rings respectively having circumferential slots at the points of tangency with the lower rail and the part-ring elements and said lower rail and part-ring elements respectively havingapertures in register'withthe respective slots atthe rings are rigidly connecte'd to certain 'of-thelowerrings.

8. in a railing of the class described, the combination of: a post member and a'rail'mernber arrangedtojform' a corner; a corner-connecting'element'withinthe corner and secured to one-member and-having an'outer arcuate surface the section of a cylinder formed about an axis transverse to the length ofthe railmernber, said-surface being tangent to the'other member and having a circumferential slot the-rein including thepointof tangency;- and releasable fastener 'means in the slot and engaging-said other member at saidpoint of tangency, said fastener means being releasable for circumferential sliding=-inthe slot to enable adjustment of themembers relative to-"e'ach other about-the aforesaid axis and'said fastener means beingsecurable *tofix the-members against relative movement.

"9. A railing assembly, comprising: -a pair of parallel post members; a rail member extending between and forming Withthe'post membersa pair of-spaced corners; a pair of corner elements respectively within the corners and interconnectingthe rail member with the post rnemeach slot and through saiclsother corner-for-mingmember, each fastener being releasable for circumferential sliding in its slot to enable changes in the angle of its corner and being securable to fix a selected corner angle. 10. A railing assembly, comprising: a pair of parallel post members; upper and lower parallel rail members extending between and forming respectively with the post members a pair of upper and a pair of lower corners; a pair of upper and a pair of lower corner brace elements disposed respectively within the corners, each element being secured to one member and having an arcuate outer surface the section of a cylinder formed about an axis transverse to the length of the rail, said surface being tangent to the other of the members at the respective corner and each element having in its arcuate surface a circumferential slot extending to at least one side of the point of tangency of said surface with said other members; and a plurality of releasable fasteners, one in each slot and engaging the tangent portion of the respective member, each fastener being releasable for circumferential sliding in its slot to enable changes in the angle of its corner and being securable to fix a selected corner angle. v

11. The invention defined in claim 10, including: an upper series of intermediate elements, each element having an arcuate outer surface the section of a cylinder formed on an axis transverse to the length of the rail and said elements being arranged along the upper rail with said surfaces tangent to said rail and in tangential consecutive order as respects each other, the surfaces of the end elements in said series being respectively tangent to the corner brace elements in the upper corners and each intermediate element having in its surface a first circumferential slot portion including the point of tangency with the upper rail member and each intermediate element having in its surface a second circumferential slot portion including the point of tangency with the next element in said series, each end element in said series having in its surface a circumferential slot including the point of tangency with the respective upper corner brace element; and a plurality of releasable fasteners, one passed through each first slot portion and engaging the tangent portion of the upper rail, one passed through each second slot portion and engaging the next element in said series, and one passed through the end element slot and engaging the respective corner element, each fastener being releasable for circumferential sliding in its respective slot to accommodate corner angle adjustment and being securable to fix said adjustment.

12. In a railing of the class described, the combination of: a post member and a rail member arranged to form a corner; a corner-connecting element within the corner and secured to one member and having an outer arcuate surface the section of a cylinder formed about an axis transverse to the length of the rail member, said surface being tangent to the other member and releasable fastener means normally interconnecting said other member and the corner-connecting element at said point of tangency, said element being releasable to slide around said arcuate surface to enable adjustment of the members relative to each other about the aforesaid axis and said fastener means being securable to fix the members against relative movement.

13. A post for a railing of the class described, comprising: an elongate upright member having a terminal upper end and front and rear upright faces and opposite side faces; a connecting element rigid on the member at the upper end thereof, said member including an arcuate outer mounting surface projecting at the front face of said member and formed about a horizontal axis.

14. The invention defined in claim 13, including: a second connecting element at approximately the level of the first-mentioned element and projecting from one of said side faces, said second element including an arcuate outer mounting surface formed about a horizontal axis normal to the first-mentioned axis.

15. A post for a railing of the class described, comprising: an elongate upright member having a terminal upper end and front and rear upright faces and opposite side faces; a C-shaped connecting element arranged with its open side down to embrace the upper end of the member from above, the axis of said element passing horizontally through the member between said front and rear faces, the free ends of the element being rigidly secured respectively to said front and rear faces and the closed side of said element curving upwardly ahead of, rearwardly over and downwardly behind the upper end of said member.

, 16. A post for a railing of the class described, comprising: an elongate upright member having a terminal upper end and front and rear upright faces and opposite side faces; a C-shaped connecting element arranged with its open side down to embrace the upper end of the member from above, the axis of said element passing horizontally through the member between said front and rear faces, the free ends of the element being rigidly secured respectively to said front and rear faces and the closed side of said element curving upwardly and forwardly spaced ahead of, rearwardly over and spaced above and downwardly behind and spaced rearwardly from the upper end of said member.

17. The invention defined in claim 16, in which: the

.member is tubular and has front and rear walls, and one of said-walls is extended upwardly and rigidly secured to that portion of the element over the upper end of said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 417,397 

